Pool Hopping?

[RONfromRI]

I noticed a couple of posts lately about pool hopping as a significant activity when visiting WDW. I was just wondering if I was alone in that pool hopping is not a factor in my DVC memberhsip. My family of 4 has never done that and probably never will, especially at WDW where time is of a premium. No disrespect to those who do prioritize their swimming pool experience, but every resort I've ever been to has a swimming pool. We do enjoy a quick dip but I'd like to know what the attraction of different WDW pools is. Again, this is just a curious inquisition, not meant as any disrespect to anyone. I'm just curious. Thanks in advance for straightening me out about this.

[CarolMN]

We're members at BWV and have never pool hopped. At this point in time I can't imagine ever wanting to pool hop. (Maybe some of our guests will want to try out another resort's pool. So far, they seem to be much more interested in the parks ;) ;) ). For us, pool hopping is in the same category as changing resorts during a stay - way too much trouble! :D I know that many DVC members love to pool hop and many say that they also like to change resorts during their stay. More power to them! And to each his own! :D We love our DVC

[minnie mouse]

Even though pool hopping is a nice bonus it was not a deciding factor for me to buy in.

We are Boardwalk owner and I think the pool there is just fine for me and my kids love it there too.

I'm not saying that I never will enjoy another Disney pool but it is not important to me seeing we spend most of our time in the parks anyway.

[PamOKW]

I think pool hopping really means using Stormalong Bay. Maybe the new pools at GF and Poly will be attractive as well. Can't forsee actually using pool hopping myself. Sometimes I don't even make it to the pool where I'm staying (except for Vero).

[KNWVIKING]

I can see myself pool hopping.My wife & I have now developed a pattern of 10 days in december & 2 weeks in my,(OKW). We've done WDW to the point that we only need a day or two to hit the hot spots and new things.We now buy annual passes but it will eventually become hard to justify the expense. I can see us start to relax more at the resort rather then run our butts off.That's when pool hopping will be fun,but honestly, I think PH will be discontinued in the near future,probably when BCV opens.

[wdwnut]

hi: we own at bwv and the kids are 14,20,23 yo. they love to pool-hop over to sab at the yc/bc. we didn't buy into dvc for this reason, but the kids love this perk. it will be interesting to see whether or not it is discontinued once bcv opens.

[Cyndy]

We have never hopped but, since we booked after our 11 month window expired, we were only able to get rooms at OKW (which for the record, we LOVE!) however we are taking our 2 daughters their DH and gradkids. The kids include 2 eleven y/o girls, 9 y/o boy and 5 y/o girl, and since this is our first extended family stay as DVC members we look forward to taking the kids to the "coaster pool"

I hope the hopping is not eliminated since those who have owned DVC for several years or like DH & I who often go to relax and may only spend a day or two in our favorite parks, it is a great perk.

As DVC members, who have never experienced LIDisneyFan's disappointment I am sorry to hear that it happend and commend her for her persistance. I hope she can help her kids understand. They will learn much about life from this experience.

Most of all let's remember not to let one "cranky" CM spoil our fun!

[Zimbubba]

There is something to be said about taking advantage of the subtle and wonderful things that WDW has to offer and not feeling like you have to be in a park all the time. We have been going to WDW regularly since 1985, bought into DVC in '95. During our typical 10 day visit we spend 5 days in the parks, 2 in the surrounding area (Orlando, Kissimmee, etc.) and 3 exploring the rich treasures on WDW property. Part of that is a relaxing morning, afternoon, evening at another resort's pool. It is a good thing. Try it, you may enjoy it!

[Terry Sheehan]

We have never pool hopped but I am sure I will be very upset if and when the privledge is taken away! For us like others time at the pool is not all that important. I tgink this is because we always travle off season. Many times we have had a best 1 or 2 days that were pool days anyways! I do think that we are also almost to the point of kicking back and spending more time in the resorts and less time in the parks. Maby then we will pool hop. Of course that means they will take pool hopping away for sure!

Terry :)

[dznymom1]

When we bought DVC back in 1991 I couldn't imagine us ever taking the time to pool hop. Now that we have been to WDW so many times over the years, we find that exploring the resorts is almost as much fun as visiting the parks. We Pool Hop in different degrees on most of our trips now. It may be that we'll throw our swimsuits in a bag, store it in a locker while we're at MK and then head out to a monorail resort (or in the past WL) and have some lunch and a swim. Or between parks, we may have lunch in the food court at PO or Dixie Landings and enjoy their pools for a couple of hours. When we stay at BWV we often spend a few hours at Stormalong Bay. (I really am not a big fan of the Clown Pool.) I guess we have really slowed down our pace where relaxing is a higher priority than it used to be, and we enjoy relaxing in different places. We have really enjoyed pool hopping for the last few years, and I would be disappointed if it was ever eliminated. That said, I also perfectly understand and respect the need to give priority to resort guests during peak seasons. Besides, we're from New Hampshire and we'll swim when most of the sane world is wrapped up keeping warm & dry!

Best thing about DVC is the many options and flexibilty that it offers to all of us!

[MaryAnnDVC]

Hey, Ron, another RIer here! I live in the next town! :)

We've always stayed at the Beach Club, so we've been enjoying SAB. On our first trip to WDW in '97, we spent very little time at the pool...one brief visit, I think, and also did Blizzard Beach. At the time, I thought of it as "the trip of a life time" :rolleyes: , and were too busy to spend much time swimming. Since then, we've gone twice (both at the BC), and each time spent more time at the pool.

Now that we are BWV DVC owners (first DVC trip will be in November) I feel much more relaxed about "doing" WDW since we'll be going for the next 41 years :D , and we're going to play things by ear more...a lot less running around. I'd love to see the other resorts, and since it is an option to pool hop, we may just do that.

[Lesley]

Honestly I hope pool hopping stays around just long enough for us to try Stormalong Bay once! The YC/BC don't really appeal to me that much as hotels, so I'd like to be able to swim there while at BWV. Other than that...well...we're not huge swimmers. I'll stay at the Poly again someday and try out the new pool there when I do. But frankly we have a hard time fitting swimming in to our vacations and I can't see us going out of our way to pool hop often.

And if its eliminated before we get to try SAB...well, we'll just have to try out BCV!


Lesley


1979 Contemporary
1992 Off-site
1994 Carribean Beach
1999 Fort Wilderness and Coronado Springs
2000 Polynesian and Old Key West
2002 Boardwalk Villas

[A1A1]

Have never pool hopped. Can't see myself doing it either. The water is the same wherever you swim, so to me one pool is as good as the next. Also, don't like to get completely dressed after being in a wet swimsuit. That is not to say that I would walk around naked.

[twinglefam]

As a new (unofficial)DVC owner I'm sure that we'll take advantage of pool hopping in the future, especially with the number of anticipated trips over the next 41 years to Disney. Our first trip as owners will be this Oct. - we'll own at WVL but staying at OKW for this trip. I'm sure planning on making a trip over to WVL with my parents & kids to show them our home resort and swim there. I can also forsee a planned jaunt over to SAB or BW pool during a day stay at Epcot to refresh ourselves and show the family our other resort options as members. I personally look forward to using this perk. ;)

Here we go...........

[eva]

We pool hop every trip. We rarely spend every day in the parks anymore. After so many trips to WDW we like to explore the resorts and areas outside of the parks. A lot of times we eat lunch at a resort and then enjoy their pool for the afternoon. If we stay at BWV we rarely use the pool there. I agree with a number of you, that clown head disturbs me. I always hope every trip that our balcony doesn't look out on the pool area. Usually we stroll over to SAB. Hurricane Hanna's there makes some of the best frozen drinks. I'm really looking forward to trying out the Poly's new pool. Lunch at Kona Cafe and a dip in their pool sounds pretty good to me. It's probably for the best that all DVC members don't use the pool hopping feature. If the pools get over crowded they would likely cut the benefit. Though I agree with most that the benefit will likely be dropped after BCV opens.

[Patricia]

We pool hopped for the first time this past summer from BW to Storm Along Bay. It was a nice experience, but, at the risk of sounding ancient, that pool was a bit much for me. I was nervous that I was going to lose my 5 yr. old. It was just too winding and I didn't care for the sand at the bottom part at all. My 15 year old liked it as did my 11 year old, but I am not sure it was worth all the hoopla for our family.

[Cap]

We're members at BWV. We haven't done pool hopping. However, if / when we come with our adult children and their spouses, I think they will want to use this option.

You may want to post this question as a poll.

Cap

[Mojomanny]

I am a new DVC owner....so please excuse my lack of knowledge.

Is pool hopping an exclusive perk of DVC or is it available to any WDW resort guest? Seems like a decent, low-cost perk for Disney to offer. Other than the guest inconvenience of having some potentially crowded days, which they minimize during peak periods with restrictions for DVC), what are the true costs?


Seems senseless for them to even consider taking it away?

[SueM in MN]

To answer the questions of the post just before mine:
Pool hopping is a privilege for DVC owners who are staying on points at a WDW resort. It is not available at times when the pools are already at peak capacity, so you need to check first with the desk because the pool you want to use may be closed to people not staying at that resort.
We have been DVC members at OKW since 1993. We don't pool hop and it was a "Oh, that's a nice benefit" type thing to us. Possibly, if more of the pools were handicapped accessible, we would pool hop. As it stands now, it is too hard for us to go to one of the other pools and not know what to expect.
We also don't like that clown head. It's funny, I read a study that said most people don't like clowns and most adults were afraid of clowns as children. But clowns think that everyone loves them.

SueM in MN
Co-Moderator of disABILITIES (http://wdwinfo.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?q=Y&a=frm&s=40009993&f=38009194)

[RONfromRI]

Thanks for all the response. Although I still don't see the attraction of pool hopping just for the sake of visiting another pool, I hadn't considered the convenience aspect of it. I especially like dznymom1's idea of visiting the nearest pool as part of a break from a day at a theme park.

Hey MaryAnnDVC, I've finally found the other DVC member from RI. About a year ago, I did a post asking for other RI DVC'ers. Not surprisingly, I got no response except a couple of good natured wise-cracks about Little-Rhody, again, not surprisingly. Actualy, I think there are a couple of hundred of us

[HorizonsFan]

I think when BCV opens SAB might be taken off the pool hopping list. There will simply be too many rooms there to allow non YC/BC/BCV guests to use the pool. I think that the pool hopping privelege will stay though, which might make Luna Park Pool the new popular pool...

Dave

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